SAFE ENOUGH And Other Stories

Lee Child's short stories, which focus on protagonists from seedier sides of life, including hit men with varying moral compasses, are an interesting collection enhanced by a one-man show of narration by Edoardo Ballerini. Short stories might provide the biggest challenge for a narrator, and he is definitely up to it. Ballerini uses a variety of techniques--ranging from clipped tones to changing accents and pace--to make each story his own. A police officer tucked away in a documents room speaks in a minimalistic way, while other characters have more commanding tones. Child doesn't overwrite, Ballerini knows his craft, and the two team up for well-done stories. M.B. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2024]